Defence attorney says co-accused not taking the fall for Bellarmine Mugabe

Defence attorney Sinenhlanhla Mnguni has denied claims that accused number two, Tobias Matonhondze, is taking the fall for Bellarmine, son of late Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe.

This follows Matonhondze pleading guilty to attempted murder, while Mugabe admitted to the lesser charges of pointing a firearm and contravening the immigration act.

Bellermine Mugabe pleaded guilty to charges of pointing a firearm and being in the country illegally.

While co-accused Matonohondze entered a guilty plea to four charges, including attempted murder, possession of a firearm, and defeating the ends of justice.

The charges stem from two separate incidents that took place.

There is no clarity about the first incident, only that it took place around the same time.

However, the charges emanating from both cases have been intertwined in this matter. The pair was arrested after Sipho Mahlangu a security guard, was shot in the back twice at a residence in Hyde Park in February.

Both were found at the scene, but only Matonhondze has pleaded guilty to shooting Mahlangu.

Mnguni said that he is not taking the fall for Mugabe

"Think ultimately, the parties are at liberty to plead to the charges that are put to them, and those are entered freely and voluntarily by the different accused."

He said that to suggest otherwise is to sensationalise the matter.

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